Plant-Forward: Partners Unite to Combat Urban Heat

November 19, 2025

A group of adults and children stand around a newly planted tree in a sunny park. — Reed Park Tree Planting This large-scale planting also served as a hands-on learning opportunity for volunteers. © Arizona Sustainability Alliance

If you spend any amount of time outdoors during the summer in Phoenix, you might get a headache and feel dizzy. Rising urban heat affects all of us, although neighborhoods with a healthy tree canopy can feel up to 13 degrees cooler than those with sparse vegetation. Urban trees not only lower temperatures—they also clean the air, helping to prevent respiratory health issues.

For these reasons and more, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Arizona’s Healthy Cities team and its partners are expanding the tree canopy across Maricopa County to create more cooler and resilient communities. In October, more than 80 community members and volunteers came together to plant more than 90 native and desert-adapted trees in Mesa’s Reed Park and install a green stormwater feature to utilize rainfall to support plants.

“We’re excited to partner with Mesa and other cities and community organizations to respond to intense heat and ensure a thriving urban forest—especially for those who need it most,” said Amy Scoville-Weaver, healthy cities director for TNC in Arizona.

The large-scale planting also served as a hands-on learning opportunity. Volunteers gained practical skills in how to plant a tree and the importance of tree care over its lifetime. These practices, including pruning, watering and mulching, are essential—not just for tree survival, but for sustaining a healthy canopy that supports biodiversity, boosts property values and fosters community well-being.

Among the volunteers were graduates of the Urban Heat Leadership Academy (UHLA), a free bilingual program offered by TNC Arizona and Unlimited Potential, focused on community engagement, tree health, green stormwater infrastructure and public health.

Mark Beehler, a UHLA graduate, shared: “The UHLA helped me engage more deeply with my neighbors and exposed me to knowledge that has helped bring positive changes to my community—to improve our health and quality of life.”

Additional partners in the initiative included the Arizona Sustainability Alliance, Trees Matter, Watershed Management Group and Unlimited Potential. The project was proudly supported by the Arizona Columbine Garden Club and The Garden Club of America.

Learn more about extreme heat and tree canopy in your neighborhood at nature.org/healthycitiesaz.